Although bamboo products are as strong and durable as wood, bamboo is actually a member of the grass family Poaceae. One of the fastest growing plants in the world, some varieties can renew themselves in a single growing season.

Incorporating bamboo into your kitchen remodeling project is an eco-friendly way to give the heart of your home a light, natural style.

Here a five great ways to creatively incorporate bamboo when remodeling your kitchen.

1. Bamboo Cabinets

Bamboo is typically processed by cutting the stalks into strips, boiling them, drying them and then gluing them together under high pressure to form planks and sheets.

The natural pattern of the stalks, including the characteristic nodes, can be preserved during this process, creating cabinets with unique depth and variation.

The best cabinet styles show off bamboo’s natural beauty. Look for models with clean lines, streamlined forms and minimal visible hardware that will create a sleek yet organic look for your modern kitchen.

2. Butcher Block Countertops

During the curing process, bamboo may be steamed or toasted to darken the fibers. Known as carbonized bamboo, this material is ideal for layering into a distinctive butcher block sheet.

Bamboo butcher block countertops are available made from either natural or carbonized bamboo. Because the end grain features a striking pattern, the thick, solid blocks look particularly distinctive on kitchen islands.

3. Bamboo Blinds

Available in every imaginable shade of brown, tan and beige, natural bamboo blinds add a texture and visual interest to window treatments. Most are designed as Roman shades, with woven strips of bamboo that relax into overlapping folds when the blinds are drawn up.

A bamboo valance presents a polished and neat appearance when you open the blinds to let the sun shine in.

4. Ceiling Panels

Things are looking up for eco-friendly bamboo. Sleek and stylish panels with bamboo veneers are now available to apply to existing ceilings or to create a dropped ceiling. Vertically grained and polished to perfection, the panels are rich in pattern and depth, providing a chic and unique backdrop to your new kitchen.

5. Bamboo Mats

For an affordable and easy-to-apply bamboo product with a decidedly tropical appeal, it’s hard to beat bamboo matting.

Bamboo mats, sometimes called panels, are made by weaving strips of bamboo together. Framed with slats of bamboo or bamboo poles, they’re ideal for decorating a kitchen nook or bar with a bit of Tiki flair.

The flexible yet sturdy mats also make an attractive covers for waste bins and storage containers.

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